Readiness for practice: social work students' perspectives in England, Italy, and Sweden

Social work students' perceptions of readiness to practice: a mixed methods approach

“…The only study that specifically focused on the views and feelings of social work students is the international comparison study by Frost et al (2013).…”

“…One of the main criticisms concerning education is whether social workers acquire relevant knowledge to be able to sustain their practice as social workers over time, to fulfill the duties required by the State (Frost et al 2013). There appears to also be within social work education an argument that the development of a separate statement for knowledge and skills for Children and Families social work and Adults social work is undesirable in the absence of a clear articulation about why the generic nature of social work education is being abandoned.…”

“…Italy and Sweden nearly half of the modules on the courses each year are devoted to social work methods and linking to practice (Frost et al 2013). …”

“…It is important to acknowledge the expectations of employers and service users to a ds e su i g stude ts a e p ope l p epa ed so ial o k edu ato s -usually in a university -to claim the professionalisation of the profession (Frost et al 2013). …”

“…These activities within England and Wales increasingly align 25 with countries such as Italy, where the completion of the social work degree itself is not a license to practise. In Italy competence is examined via an additional professional state exam, which serves as a regulatory and standardising tool (Frost et al 2013). …”